'Incredibly Well-Run Town': Incoming Hinsdale Leader

HINSDALE, IL – Hinsdale's incoming village president has some good words about the work of local officials over the years.

"This is an incredibly well-run town," Greg Hart, who takes office Wednesday, said in an interview Tuesday. "But like any organization, it isn't perfect."

Hart is taking the reins from Tom Cauley, who did not seek a fifth term after 16 years.

Hart ran unopposed. In the Village Board election, three incumbents, Michelle Fisher, Matt Posthuma and Neale Byrnes, prevailed.

Hart said he met with Cauley a couple of weeks ago.

"I thanked him for his years of service. I asked him for his advice," Hart said.

In particular, Hart, a management consultant, praised Cauley for launching long-term plans for infrastructure after he took office. As a result, the streets are in good shape, he said.

"We have done a great job relative to other communities," he said.

Recently, Hart sent out a survey to gauge residents' concerns. He said he would release the results in a couple of weeks.

As for local growth, Hart said the village needed to look to the future for development, yet not sacrifice the community's history and values.

He said that, like Cauley, he is fiscally mindful. He said he wanted to make sure the village does everything possible to bring in sales tax-generating businesses, reducing the reliance on local property taxpayers.

Post-pandemic, Hart said, many Hinsdale residents aren't commuting as often to Chicago for work. That means residents are doing more business locally, he said.

"We want to make sure uses in downtown reflect what residents want," said Hart, who served five years on the DuPage County Board.

Hart is set to be sworn in at 6 p.m. Wednesday at Village Hall, 19 E. Chicago Ave.